Needle threader



y 1956 R. BALZER 2,747,778

NEEDLE THREADER Filed Aug. 17. 1953 22 INVENTOR. B00041 BALZEE,

AT aeA/Ey.

United States atent NEEDLE THREADER Rudolf Balzer, Sepulveiia, Calif.

Application August 17, 1953, Serial No. 374,696

2 Claims. (Cl. Mil-99) This invention has to do with a needle threader, and it is a general object of this invention to provide a simple, practical, improved needle threading device particularly useful and practical as applied to sewing machine needles.

The usual or ordinary sewing machine needle is characterized by an elongate shank sharpened at one end and provided with an opening or eye spaced somewhat from the sharpened end. Such needles vary somewhat as to size, however, for general use the eyes in such needles are about the same size and are located at about the same distance from the tip end or point of the needle.

It is a general object of this invention to provide an article of manufacture operable to aid in the threading of a needle, and particularly the sewing machine needle, which article is of simple, inexpensive form and construction and such as it can be used quickly, easily and effectively.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the character mentioned which is of unitary character, that is, which is a structure free of relatively moving or working parts making it practical for use so that the user can hold the structure with one hand and manipulate the thread to be engaged in the needle with the other hand.

Another object of this invention is to provide a structure of the general character referred to, which is such that it can be easily, quickly and accurately engaged with the needle by a simple lateral thrusting of the device against the needle to put the device in a position to receive a thread and to so engage that thread as to operate it through the eye of the needle as the device is withdrawn from the needle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a structure of the general character referred to which is exceedingly simple, inexpensive and practical in form and construction.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device of the general character referred to characterized by a body which may be of such size and which is of such character that it can be easily and safely handled, and a book which is a line or delicate element, which hook is so combined with the body as to be protected thereby against injury and against danger of injuring or inconveniencing the user.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of my invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the device provided by the invention showing it engaged with a needle carried in a sewing machine with the device in a position to receive a thread so that as the device is removed from the needle the thread is drawn through the eye thereof. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed transverse sectional view taken substan tially as indicated by line 2-2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1, being a longitudinal sectional view of the structure and taken substantially as indicated by line 3-3 on Fig. 2. Fig. 4

2,747,778 Fatented May 29, 1956 ice is a plane section taken as indicated by line 44 on Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1, a part of the needle being shown in section and the device of the principal invention being shown Withdrawn from the needle and carrying the thread through the eye of the needle.

The device or structure as provided by the present invention is useful generally for the threading of needles, however, it is particularly useful and practical for the threading of sewing machine needles and, in practice, it can be employed to advantage on a needle mounted in-or carried by a sewing machine. In the drawings a needle A is shown carried by the vertically reciprocating element B of a sewing machine, and the needle is shown as involving an elongate shank lit with a sharpened end 'or tip 11 and with an eye or opening 12 spaced a suitable distance from or above the tip H. The eye accommodates or carries the thread C as the machine operates, and in ordinary practice is substantially rectangular in cross sectional configuration as indicated in the drawings.

The article or unit provided by the present invention is preferably of a fixed size, shape and form and is wholly free of or without working or relatively moving parts. Since needles, such as sewing machine needles, vary mainly in weight or size of the shank 10, it is preferred to provide or incorporate in one structure embodiments of the invention that will work to advantage on or in connection with needles of different sizes. For this reason, in the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, there are two embodiments of the structure provided by the invention, one of a size adapted to accommodate What may be termed a small needle, and the other of a size adapted to accommodate what may be termed a large needle. This condition or situation will be readily recognizcd from the drawings and in the following description reference will be made to but one structure embodying the invention, it being understood that the description is equally applicable to both structures, the only variation or distinction being as to matters of size in order that needles of different sizes may be advantageously accommodated.

In accordance with the present invention the article or unit embodying the invention preferably involves an assembly of parts and these parts include generally a body D, and a hook E. The body D in its preferred form is an elongate block of any suitable material which is rigid and permanent as to form under ordinary conditions as are encountered in the course of sewing. in practice, the body may be formed of any so-cailed plastic material which is firm and rigid under normal temperatures and atmospheric conditions, such as prevail where sewing is done. It will be recognized from the following description that the body may, in practice, be advantageously formed of a material or materials that can be stamped or cast, the body structure being such that such simple, inexpensive methods of manufacture can be carried out to advantage.

The body D in its preferred form is elongate and has a top 29, a bottom 21, sides 22 and an end 23. In the particular case illustrated, each of these parts of the body is flat and may be a simple, flat, plain surface or face.

The present invention provides a notch in the body entering the body from the end 2-3 and located to extend transversely of the body from one side 22 to the other and located between the top 26 and bottom 21 of the body, though it is preferably located closer to the bottom than to the top as shown in the drawings. The notch provided in the body establishes a flat, upwardly facing shoulder as in the forward portion of the body or just inward of the end 23 and located somewhat above the bottom 21. .In its preferred form the shoulder 39 .is and smooth and it is in a plane parallel with the planes 3 of the top and bottom 21. The notch further establishes a stop 31 in the body which stop faces forward or toward the end 23 of the body and extends upward from the innermost edge of the shoulder 30. The stop 31 preferably extends transversely of the body from one side 22 to the other.

The notch provided in the body to establish the shoulder and stop 31 may vary in vertical extent though it is preferred to be of a vertical heighth or extent corresponding to the distance from the top 11 of the needle to the top or uppermost part of the eye 12 in the needle, such proportioning of the notch being illustrated in the drawings.

The invention provides a slot in the body from the forward end 23 thereof, and this slot is preferably located midway between the sides 22 of the body and has flat, vertical, opposed sides 41. The slot 4t. extends a substantial distance into the body and has a bottom 42 that is vertically disposed and which is flush with and forms in effect a continuation of the stop 31. In practice, the slot 40 may be of any suitable width though it is preferably of such width as to receive the needle A with working or sliding clearance thus enabling the body to be engaged with or slid over the needle so that the parts reach an engaged position where the tip or point of the needle is on the shoulder 30 while the shank 10 of the needle is against the stop 31 and bottom 42, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

In carrying out the invention where the body is double ended or has an embodiment of the invention at both ends as shown in the drawings, the two slots 49 may be alike so that each will receive and properly accommodate a given needle in which case either end of the structure may be used to advantage, or the slot at one end can be materially wider than that at the other end so that one end of the structure can be used on a small or fine needle while the other can be used on a coarse or heavy needle.

The hook E as provided by the invention is carried by the body D and has a head 50 exposed and effective in the notch 29. In the particular construction illustrated, the hook has an elongate shank 51 carrying the head 55;, and the shank is held or confined in a channel provided for that purpose in the body D. When the hook is thus formed of an elongate shank with a head 59 on one end, it can be advantageously formed of an elongate strip or length of metal, such as steel. The head 59 of the hook is preferably flat or shaped generally to conform to that of the eye of the needle, and is somewhat smaller in cross section than the eye of the needle so that it can be passed through the eye of the needle. In accordance with the invention the head 50 of the needle projects forward from the stop 31 into the notch 29. The head 5 t being such as to pass through the eye of the needle is narrower than the slot 49. In accordance with the invention the parts are related so that the head 50 of the hook is in the notch 29 just below the slot and is located to be midway between the sides 41 of the slot as the structure is considered in plane configuration as shown in Fig. 4. The head St) of the hook is elongate and extends parallel with the shoulder 3t? and is spaced above the shoulder it} so that when the tip 11 of the needle is on the shoulder 30, the hook is in position to enter and pass through the eye of the needle.

The head 50 of the hook is provided with a notch 55 entering it from the lower edge portion of the head, and the notch is preferably formed so that it extends up and somewhat forward in the head to establish the head with a downwardly and inwardly projecting jaw. The notch 55 has a rounded bottom so a thread caught therein will slide and will not be wedged tight in the notch or engaged thereby in such a manner as to damage the thread. Further, it is to be observed that the head 5% of the hook is of substantial length or projects a substantial distance forward from the stop 31 so that when the shank of the needle is against the bottom 42 and stop 31,

the hook projects through the eye of the needle and the jaw of the hook is spaced forward of the needle.

To use the structure of the present invention it is merely necessary to move the body D laterally of the needle so that the needle enters the slot 40 with the tip it of the needle sliding along the shoulder 39. Assuming the direction of the approach of the body relative to the needle is properly related to the position of the eye in the needle, the hook will pass through the eye of the needle establishing the parts in the position as shown in Fig. 3. The operator or user can then easily pass the thread C into the notch 29 in the course of which operation the thread is urged rearwardly and then upwardly with the result that it is caught by the jaw 55'. The catching of the needle by the jaw is immediately detected by the user, whereupon the body can be withdrawn from the needle or backed away in the course which the head of the hook is withdrawn from the eye of the needle and the thread held by the jaw of the head is drawn through the eye of the needle with the head. The operation just described can be carried out to bring the parts to a position such as is shown in Fig. 5, from which it will be recognized the user then has the thread through the eye of the needle so that it can be readily made ready for use. I

In the preferred form or carrying out of the invention the body D is sectional in form, that is, it is divided vertically and lengthwise in a plane midway between the sides 22 so that it is, in effect, made up of two like side sections. The opposing parts or faces 70 of the like side section of the body are preferably plain, fiat and smooth and fit one against the other except at the point where the shanks 51 of the hooks occur and at points where anchors 7?. on the shanks occur. Where the shanks of the hooks occur the opposing sides or faces '76 are curved or channeled establishing openings that snugly hold the shanks. In the particular construction illustrated each hook shank 51 at the end remote from the head 5% has a laterally projecting anchor lug 7. and these anchor lugs are received in and held by lateral openings or sockets '72 in the body sections. The body sections above described may be joined or held together in a rigid fixed assembly by any suitable construction or form of fastener means. In the preferred form of the invention the body sections are releasably secured together so that they can, if desired, be taken apart to provide for repair or replacement of the hooks. In the case illustrated the body sections are releasably held or secured together by suitably releasable fasteners i i shown as screw fasteners.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but Wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A needle threader including, an elongate rigid body member substantially rectangular in cross section provided with a notch transversely extending inwardly from one end so as to provide spaced shoulders, one of said shoulders being provided with an inwardly extending slot for the full height thereof, the end of said slot being in alignment with the end of said notch, the other of said shoulders being flat and substantially at right angles to the aligned ends of the respective notch and slot and adapted to serve as a stop, and an elongate rigid hook stationary in the body and formed of a length of strap material and having a forwardly convergent head with an upwardly and forwardly extending thread receiving notch projecting forward into the notch in the body and in vertical alignment with the slot to enter and project through the eye of a needle fully engaged in the notch and slot with its tip on the shoulder.

2. A needle threader including, an elongate rigid body member substantially rectangular in cross section provided with a horizontally disposed transverse notch eX- tending inwardly from one end so as to provide vertically spaced upper and lower shoulders, the upper shoulder being provided With an inwardly extending vertical slot for the full height thereof, the end of said slot being in alignment with the end of said notch, the lower shoulder being fiat and substantially at right angles to the aligned ends of the respective notch and slot and adapted to serve as a stop, and a hook formed of a length of strap material held stationary in the body with its sides disposed vertically therein and having a forwardly convergent head with an upwardly and forwardly extending thread receiving notch therein with a rounded bottom, the head projecting forward into the notch in the body and in vertical alignment with the slot therein to enter and project through the eye of a needle fully engaged References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,162,938 Leon Dec. 7, 1915 1,350,592 Corduan Aug. 24, 1920 2,483,595 Olson Oct. 4, 1949 2,525,034 Janie Oct. 10, 1950 2,609,771 Vogel Sept. 9, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,591 Great Britain Jan. 23, 1908 

